Whether it is your first round of exams in your 7th grade year of middle school or the finals you take during college, exams are a stressful time. All students feel overwhelmed by the amount of work, anxious about their grades, and stressed because of the combination of the two.

Despite going to the exam prep classes that Episcopal provided for our first midterm in 7th grade, studying for exams and using different techniques for different classes was still an ambiguous process for me. I thought the only way I can be fully prepared for every class is by making flashcards of every question that could possibly be asked — bad idea. So much time was absorbed from writing all of these flashcards that I didn't have to time to study them. When I got the exam back, I got a solid 63%, and I was crushed. I thought I spent all of this time preparing for this exam and I still received a D-.

What I learned from this experience is that the studying technique of using flashcards doesn't work for me. Since then I have experimented with other study strategies such as reviewing what I got wrong on past tests and rereading material I didn't understand throughout the school year. I found that these techniques worked for me and I saw the improvement on my exam scores.

​So what I want to tell you is that failure is okay as long as you learn from that failure and do different things to try to succeed on the next midterm or final. Keep in mind that most paths to success are not straight lines of progression, they go up, down, back, and forth.

Experimenting with different strategies and undergoing multiple trial and error scenarios is the only way you will be able to find the perfect studying technique that is right for you.

5 study tips for exam week:

Stress outlet — Talking to people who I'm close with (my mom, dad, teachers, and friends) about my stress makes me feel better about everything I have to do. It's like a venting process. Once I rant about my stress, it calms me down, and I am motivated to get things done. Other channels can be a book, exercise, an artistic outlet, writing or journaling, or just getting outside.

Study environment — Whether your bedroom, a café, or a library, you need to find an environment that keeps you focused and not distracted. Mine is a café.

A good playlist — Studies have shown that listening to music while studying improves attention, memory, and even your ability to do mental math, as well as helping to lessen depression and anxiety. Above all, music helps make studying more enjoyable and fun. It helps relieve stress and makes you feel more comfortable and happy as you cram for that calc test.

Take a step back— Although your test is important, taking a step back and realizing that this exam and the outcome doesn't define who you are as a person helps a lot. Students are regularly defined based on their GPA and ACT scores and subsequently feel that their value and intellect are exhibited through these scores. When in reality, students are much more than these numbers. This unnecessary pressure only adds to the existing pressure of being prepared for exams. So keep in mind that you are much more than numbers on a piece of paper.

Get organized — Organization is key. I like making an “exam binder” which involves getting a one-inch binder, putting in dividers, and labeling each one by class that I have to take an exam in. Within each of these tabs, I have everything that I need to study for each subject. I put in study guides my teacher gives me, previous tests, and a to-do list before I take each exam. Organzation helps alleviate stress and doesn't make me feel like I am scattered and all over the place.

Bonus tip!

Sleep — Studies show that if you are sleep deprived, your brain performs at a lower quality and is less likely to recall and retain information. Retaining and recalling information are two crucial facets of studying. So remembering to get 8 hours of sleep and not staying up to 2 am to cram in information will make you feel ready and well rested for each exam.